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"VAN" (International Desk - 10.08.2022) :: Prior to the first anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the Afghan Adjustment Act has been sponsored by the US Senate and House of Representatives. This law will allow eligible Afghan evacuees to apply for permanent residence after one or two years of being physically present in the country as parolees. A pathway to citizenship has been established for thousands of Afghan evacuees who have been granted temporary legal status in the United States, according to the sponsors of legislation that has been submitted in both houses of the US Congress. The legislation will also broaden eligibility for Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) much further than Afghans who worked for the U.S. government to include commandos and air force professionals who fought with American forces as well as women who operated in special counterterrorism teams. Similar drafts of the bill were presented days before the first anniversary of the disorderly evacuation operation. “We are deeply grateful to Congressional leaders for recognizing the urgency and moral imperative to keep our promise to our Afghan allies,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, who is the president of a resettlement agency that has welcomed over 13,500 Afghan refugees. “This vital legislation addresses the legal limbo that tens of thousands of evacuees still face, and offers them the stability and peace of mind they need to thrive in their new communities,” she further said. Following the military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, more than 70,000 Afghans were granted “humanitarian parole” status. The status allows them to enter the US temporarily but does not provide a means of obtaining a legal right to stay permanently. KP
On Fri, Sep 29, 2023